Friday January 27th and Saturday January 28th
Friday was a truly crazy day. After a night of heavy rain we woke up to hail the size of large peas. The rest of the day consisted of a series of bipolar swings that saw the day oscillate between hail, sun, and rain. The kids and I tried to ride our bikes during one of the sunny phases only to have it start hailing on us. Eventually, we picked up Mom from work and headed to Dunedin. Living this close to the Antarctic means that “summer” can be quite crazy.
We checked into the Allan Court Motel just north of the Octagon and everyone slept well. After breakfast we walked down to the Dunedin Railroad station. It is a stunning building. We took a breathtaking four hour journey on the Taieri Gorge Railway. Luckily it wasn’t a Cruise ship day so it was fairly empty and were free to move about the train. In fact, the kids and dad ended up staying at the very back of the train to see the stunning scenery. The landscape changed from the bustling port town of Dunedin, a 1 km tunnel, lots of farmland, and then a series of increasingly barren and remote areas.
The kids thought they were pretty cool eating on the train (they had a lot of choices but few kid friendly ones). After the train ride we walked to the Chinese Gardens here in Dunedin (apparently the only one in the Southern Hemisphere and one of a handful outside of China). It was assembled in Shanghai and then disassembled and shipped to Dunedin to be put together again. They used a technique that required no nails! We were impressed and enjoyed the serenity.
After some kiwi flavored tea we drove to Baldwin Street, the steepest street in the world and walked up! It was fun and a leg shaking experience. It was funny to see the houses and how they adapted them to this street. Apparently, planners in London laid out the grid pattern of the city with no real thought or knowledge of the terrain! It is in the Guinness Book of World Records and the kids had fun. We even got a certificate to commemorate the experience.
It was a fun but long day and the kids enjoyed watching TV before bed. We went to sleep fine but were awoken at midnight by very loud people apparently coming back from the bars along George St. The steady stream lasted until 4am:( We won’t be staying here again!
See the hail on the ground behind them?
Dunedin Railway Station.
Gabriel upstairs inside the Railway Station.
The kids on their perch on the back of the train.
Tara is excited to go through the tunnel.
One of the cool bridges in the gorge.
The front of the train shot from the very back as it goes through the mountains.
The scenery got more rugged the further out we went.
It might not be clear, but there are snow capped mountains in the background.
The Dunedin Chinese Gardens.
Tara couldn't resist!
Brody peaks through one of the windows.
Peaceful.
Climbing up Baldwin St.-the world's steepest street.
A house on Baldwin street!
The kids trudge on.
We did it!
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